Get involved with your community in Cotgrave

Launched in November 2023, the Cotgrave Integrated Neighbourhood Working Project aims to bring people together to better support the health and wellbeing of residents and make improvements to, and create opportunities in, the community.

This way of working has also been rolled out to other areas to as part of the work of South Nottinghamshire Place-Based Partnership.

The project involves local people, community and voluntary sector groups, and organisations like the NHS and local council working together for a happier, healthier Cotgrave. Since it was launched, young people’s groups and long-term conditions groups have been established in the town, and the current priorities are:

• Empowering young people
• Providing accessible information about ‘what’s on in Cotgrave’
• Health focus on cardio-vascular disease

And it’s been in the news recently, with the BBC Radio Nottingham Breakfast show visiting Cotgrave over a week in January as part of its ‘Ey Up’ campaign to highlight some of the great work and activities happening in the area through this joined-up way of working.

They spent time with the South Notts Place-Based Partnership team to explore some of the fantastic work happening across the project, visiting local groups and services who support the community, including the Cotgrave Community Kitchen and Garden, U3A (University of the 3rd Age), and featured the long-term conditions groups.

Radio Nottingham’s visit only highlighted what we already know – that successful Integrated Neighbourhood Working (INW) happens when local councils, health and social care, community groups and voluntary sector organisations work together with communities to find ways to improve the health and wellbeing of local people.

What we need (and love!) is for more people to get on board. This is a great opportunity for people who live and work in Cotgrave to come together to make change happen. If you want to find out more and get involved with this brilliant work, please contact: nnicb-nn.cotgrave-inw@nhs.net To get the latest on this work and other work happening across Rushcliffe and South Nottinghamshire, you can sign up to the South Notts Place-Based Partnership (PBP) newsletter by emailing: Antonia.smith2@nottshc.nhs.uk.

If you’d like to share your experience for a future article in South Notts News, please email: Antonia.smith2@nottshc.nhs.uk

Partnership launches ‘Take a Partner to Work’ scheme

South Notts Place-Based Partnership has recently set up a scheme called ‘Take a Partner to Work’. The scheme promotes partnership working by supporting colleagues to buddy up and take each other to work for either half or a full day. Colleagues are encouraged to do these sessions two or three times a year with different people from across the partnership.

The premise is simple, you approach a buddy, based on what area of work you would like to learn more about and find a mutually appropriate day. Read the ground rules here.

Recently, Helen Smith, South Notts PBP Programme Director and Gregg Dunning, Interim Group Manager: Community Social Work and Therapy, Adult Social Care and Health Department, buddied up and spent a day visiting each other’s places of work, meeting teams and learning more about what they do. Read all about their experience and reflections here.

Gregg

“When I shadowed Helen, we went to a mental health meeting in the morning, and I was also able to sit in on a one-to-one too. Generally, for me experiencing what Helen is involved in was confirmation that we are on the same page, and it helped to secure the connections of how we work together. It was a really hands on way of learning about someone else’s role. I got a better understanding of the breadth of the things Helen gets involved in, which I hadn’t appreciated before.

“So, this new understanding means that since then, our interactions and communications are easier as I understand Helen’s role and where it fits in with what I do.”

Helen

“I had a day with Gregg and we did a tour of the adult social care teams across South Nottinghamshire. This was great as it helped me understand Gregg’s role and connect with everyone and have some good conversations. What was powerful were the conversations and the passion people had for their work. It reaffirmed the skills and dedication of Gregg’s colleagues and how they work with wider teams to do their best for the people they are supporting.

“It was great to see examples of integrated working, but it also was easy to see the arbitrary barriers that are put in place through our processes and systems. One of the things that struck me was the financial responsibility Gregg and his team managers have for when people need a placement and how if you moved out of Nottinghamshire what that means –  the lack of ability to be pragmatic when the boundaries change.

“Gregg shared some of the procedural stuff he has to do so it was interesting to see how the IT systems work and how the deprivation of liberty process happens. Also, Gregg’s level of responsibility and the authorisation of the direct care of people who are vulnerable.”

Gregg

“I think the take away for me is that it was obvious that the ‘whys’ are the same, the only thing that really matters are the people at the centre of our decisions and our care. We have procedures we have to navigate, and we both reflected that we are on the right track but there is a way to go to get there. If health and social care also joined up a bit more on the funding then hopefully it would help tackle the bureaucracy.”

If you’d like to share your experience for a future article in South Notts News, please email: Antonia.smith2@nottshc.nhs.uk

Seasons greetings from South Notts Place-Based Partnership

Our Clinical Lead, Dr Jill Langridge, wishes everyone working and living across South Nottinghamshire, a very Happy Christmas in her seasonal message. She also reflects on a busy year for South Notts Place-Based Partnership.  

As we look back over the past year, many of us will feel that it’s never been as tough as it is at the moment. Despite very challenging conditions, the South Nottinghamshire Place-Based Partnership has continued to mature, creating a positive environment in which we have made some significant achievements.

The partnership board took the opportunity earlier this month to reflect as a team, the collective values and skills of the partnership, the highlights of the past year, our hopes for the coming year and the potential challenges that we will face.

One of my highlights has been the fantastic work across Arnold, Cotgrave, Eastwood and Hucknall through our Integrated Neighbourhood Working approach, facilitated by Health Inequalities and and Innovation Investment  (HIIIF) funding and building on the great work in Killisick and Butler’s Hill and Broomhill.

We are seeing strong relationships develop across communities, working together to co-design and implement initiatives to support health and wellbeing and address inequalities. We have been part of some vibrant community events, such as the Healthy Hearts for Hucknall, and the new Long Term Conditions group in Cotgrave. We have seen strong partnership working, for example in Gedling, where organsations have worked together to listen to young people within three youth centres and respond to what they have heard, to support their mental wellbeing.

Work has continued to support our Place-Based Partnership’s priority of Ageing Well. We have supported  the roll out of the ‘Older and Wiser’ booklet, a fantastic resource developed by one of our local GPs. Building on the success of the Rushcliffe dementia project, we are now spreading the  initiative across other areas of South Notts. We are also starting on a journey to support our Integrated Neighbourhood areas to become age-friendly.

This year we celebrated two successes at the ICS Health and Care Awards. Congratulations to the Broxtowe Learning Disability Collaborative and to the Opportunitistic Vaccination Team on very well deserved awards.

South Notts PBP has been working with Public Health colleagues to support the launch of the Building Blocks of Health, a new approach to understanding how our physical, social and economic enviroments can impact on our health and wellbeing. We used the Healthwatch Roadshow in Netherfield to demonstrate how this approach is already benefitting communities in South Notts.

Other highlights include the lauch of the Take a Partner to Work scheme, designed to give each other an insight into each other’s day to day work.

I have deliberatively not mentioned any names in this message. What I see every day is fantastic team working, with each and everyone playing an important role in the partnership. So I want to say a huge thank you to all of you, for your hard work, your dedication and your resilience. I hope that this Christmas is a festive and fun time, and that you all are able to take time to look after yourselves and those close to you.

With best wishes

Jill

To keep up-to-date with everything happening across our partnership, sign up for our newsletter. You can also take a look back at some of our highlights of the year below.

Warm Welcomes – bringing the community together in Beeston

Warm Welcomes are free community spaces open to residents, bringing people together and supporting them.

Harvest Community Haven (HCH) is a black led community interest company that has been set up by the Harvest Chapel International in the Beeston area, serving and supporting the community; from global majority communities, to those who are currently homeless, to students from overseas and to families with children. They also have a weekly community café including a food bank run by the volunteers.

Watch a video about Warm Welcome spaces, which has been created as part of the funding by Rushcliffe Community Voluntary Service to incorporate more physical activity into existing and emerging Warm spaces, to further enhance what is already on offer.

The funding has meant the group have been able to get equipment like hula hoops for the children to become more active during the sessions. Plus being able to deliver dance and seated yoga workshops as part of their community café.

The video shows the positive impact the Harvest Community Centre (HCH) has had on the community. For many people HCH is a supportive and safe space for their families. It’s a truly welcoming environment for everyone and the video captures how much HCH means to everyone involved.

You can hear from people running the group and also directly from service users and how they are benefiting from it and why it is important to them.

One service user said: “It has changed mine and my kid’s life, coming here every Sunday.”

Further information can be found on the ‘Making our Move’ website.

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MenoWalk brings Eastwood women together

As part of the Eastwood integrated neighbourhood work, a MenoWalk was held on Saturday 2 November, which was a lovely walk around the park, followed by tea/coffee in a local cafe.

The aim of the walk was to speak to local ladies to look at starting a menopause support group in North Broxtowe, which will be held in Eastwood.

Elaine Copper, Transformation Manager said: “This was a fantastic walk and hopefully the start of something that local women will find really useful. Whilst walking we got to know each other a bit and shared where we are in our journey and some of our experiences, both good and bad.

“Over coffee we started thinking about what to do on an ongoing basis. We agreed it would be good to start meeting fortnightly starting in the new year! Which everyone is looking forward to.

“Ladies are welcome to just be part of the group and enjoy any activities, but the idea was also discussed about members bringing skills or resources that the group could benefit from which would help to make the group sustainable. For example, we have a member who manages a women’s wellbeing clinic, a lady with a master’s in nutrition and someone who has access to a common room via her job. It could be anything that might be helpful to the group.”

The group plans to meet each month on a Saturday and include some physical activity element, ranging from yoga, Pilates, walking to HIIT, boxercise, tree hugging and axe throwing.

In the fortnight in between there will be a weekday evening where the group can get together to have a cuppa or a walk if the weather is kind.

Menopause is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and there are a number of things you can do to reduce your risk of heart disease, including; maintaining a healthy body weight, exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, treating and controlling medical conditions like diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure.

The group talked about symptom triggers and some of the things that exacerbate them like food, alcohol, and flights/travel. 

Although the ladies had not previously met, they decided they wanted to set up a WhatsApp group to keep in touch with one another and share useful information, for example on the HRT prescription payment scheme, information on supplements, arranging future sessions, and links to programmes to watch.

This group is open to women living in North Broxtowe, after receiving funds from Broxtowe Borough Council from their bursary fund. This includes residents in Eastwood, Kimberley, Giltbrook and surrounding areas.

We are looking in to getting support from other services that may be useful to group members. We spoke a lot about how ladies lose their confidence and identity and how domestic abuse and suicide rates increase. This group will aim to get ladies support, so they are not suffering alone.

The group will also provide a safe space for members and will be a chance to have confidential conversations that are not talked about outside of the group.

Another walk is planned for November 30^, at 9.30am, meeting at the front of Eastwood Town Council office. Any women who feel they would benefit from this support are welcome to come along.

South Notts Older and Wiser guide published!

A guide dedicated to supporting older people in South Nottinghamshire with their health and wellbeing has been published this week.

The guide was the brainchild of local GP Caroline White, who over the last 18 months has been supported by the Phoenix Programme to develop and write it, latterly with help from the South Nottinghamshire Place-Based Partnership.

She says: “I created this resource to support colleagues across health and care in South Nottinghamshire in their care of older people. It has been carefully written in patient friendly language and has lots of information focusing on maintaining health and independence in older age, seeking support and care planning.

“The content in the booklet has been co-produced with patient groups, community and hospital colleagues and I am delighted that I am now able to share it more widely.”

Copies are currently being printed and will be available in health and care settings in South Nottinghamshire, but you can also download it below.

https://healthandcarenotts.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/FINAL-Older-and-wiser-5.pdf

Hucknall for Heart Health event draws crowds

On 29August, Byron Primary Care Network (PCN) held their first ‘Healthy Hearts for Hucknall’ event at St. John’s Community Centre, Hucknall.

The event for patients registered with GP practices in Hucknall offered people a range of health checks including blood tests, blood pressure, artrial fibrillation (which is a heart condition that causes an irregular and often abnormally fast heart rate), and BMI.

The event was also supported by a wide range of other services offering health and lifestyle support including Talking Therapies, Your Health Notts, Active Notts, Social Prescribing, Ashfield District Council Health and Wellbeing and local diet and exercise groups.

There were also demonstrations from the resuscitation officer from Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust on effective resuscitation and how to use defibrillators.

The digital inclusion officer from the PCN also offered support in signing up for the NHS app and demonstrating how to use the app effectively.

The event proved to be incredibly popular, with over 250 patients turning up on the day.

Jon Stevens, Transformation Manager at South Notts PBP said; ‘Healthy Hearts for Hucknall showed a real commitment from the PCN to offering CVD prevention services and advice out in the community. We hoped that there would be a need for these kinds of events but were amazed at the appetite for this from patients and the local community. It was great example of Health and Community Services coming together to support patients in community locations.’

There are five more Healthy Hearts for Hucknall sessions over the coming months, with the next one planned for 17 October.

Integrated Neighbourhood Working – Eastwood sight loss event

Greasely Sports and Community Centre is hosting the first Eastwood Sight Loss event on 19 September from 2pm to 4pm.

The idea for the event came from discussions between Linda Pattison Nottinghamshire County Council’s Local Area Coordinator for Eastwood and Paul Holden Regional Manager for the Macular Society.  Linda had been supporting a local resident who has macular degeneration and was looking for a local support group.  The options for Eastwood residents are very limited, with the nearest Macular Support group being in Wollaton.  

Linda worked with the Eastwood Integrated Neighbourhood Working team and Elaine Cooper, Transformation Manager for Nottingham West PCN, to determine how many people were living with sight loss in Eastwood. With the assistance of the System Analytics and Intelligence Unit, the research highlighted that there are 4890 people in Broxtowe and 1600 people in Eastwood specifically. 

Paul Holden from the Macular Society was approached with the findings and the idea of a support group, based in Eastwood, for people in the North Broxtowe area, was discussed. He suggested that they initially hold an information event and use that to gauge interest in a local support group.

The event will be an opportunity for residents to learn more about living with age related macular degeneration, the macular society and other local support, services and technology available. Also attending the event will be the RNIB, My Sight Notts, Optelec, Blind Veterans and Inspire.

People can just drop in on the day, or for any questions contact Paul on: 07769 494 087

Proud to support the Sunflower initiative

Important work has been taking place in Rushcliffe to support the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower initiative, to ensure members of the community with hidden disabilities get the understanding and patience they deserve.

The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is a simple way for you to let others know that you have a disability or condition that may not be immediately apparent. It highlights that you may need a helping hand, understanding and patience, and more time in shops, at work, on transport, or in public spaces.

Sunflower lanyards have become a popular way for people and organisations to spot if someone has a non-visible disability, such as dementia.

Gwynneth Owen, Project Lead  –  Rushcliffe Dementia Communication and Support Project and Social Prescribing Link Worker said: “This is a fantastic project, and our vision is for everyone within our Rushcliffe community to be aware of what the Sunflower represents, and as a result we show each other a little more kindness and patience.”

Barbara Breakwell is spearheading the project in Ruddington. She is a sunflower lanyard user herself as she has an invisible disability, Multiple Sclerosis. She is really passionate about the project and knows through personal experience that the awareness of what they mean is limited. 

Barbara approached her local florist shop to use their display window. The local Yarn Bomb group offered to knit and crochet sunflowers and forget-me-nots to support the display and an amazing display was created to display throughout August. 

Barbara also approached all the local businesses and organisations, including public houses, churches and medical centre inviting them to display a poster that she designed.

Gwynneth and Barbara ran a stall at the market and Barbara has also done a craft activity with a sunflower remit in the local library.

Sunflower lanyards are available online and we would encourage you to use this service. In addition, Rushcliffe Borough Council is going to have a supply available at their Customer Service Centre, soon to be reopened at its new location within West Brigford Library. Kelly, the Community Champion from Morrisons in Gamston, has been working hard to raise the profile in her local store and there is a supply of the lanyards at the Customer Service Desk.

People living with dementia are finding this lanyard helpful to maintain their independence, knowing that by wearing one, support is on hand. This was the experience of Steve Ball from Whatton, on a recent rail journey to Bristol: “When I was travelling alone, wearing my Sunflower lanyard, no end of railway staff asked after my welfare and if I needed any help. It gave me more confidence on my journey to Bristol because of their care and concern.”

To learn more visit: https://hdsunflower.com